Find Your Next 6+ Bedroom Home in Winnetka and the North ShoreSometimes you just need a big house with lots of bedrooms. The local Multiple Listing Service (MRED) is sketchy with square footage numbers for homes. For many years, those numbers were not even allowed in the MLS. Some listings state the square footage, many don’t, so to do a proper search I am offering you homes with 6+ bedrooms that will almost certainly have over 5,000 sq. ft. These homes are located in the North Shore suburbs of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield. Some are new construction, some have been renovated to feel like new, and some will need work. Hence the large spread in pricing.     Image by sathyatripodi from Pixabay Many Winnetka and North Shore homes that have as many as 6-bedrooms ... 11/12/2020

   HUBBARD WOODS October  2020 The Hubbard Woods real estate market was fairly steady from September to October. There were  2 new listings and 14 closes (up from 13 in September.)2  NEW HUBBARD WOODS LISTINGS IN October 2020 1162 AsburyList price: $1,099,000 (under contract)          1509 EdgewoodList price: $1,195,000          PRIVATE NETWORK LISTINGS  877 Boal Pkwy.List price: not listed        1490 AsburyList price: $899,000              1422 EdgewoodList price: $905,000    14 CLOSED HUBBARD WOODS HOME SALES IN October 2020 1505 TowerList price: $850,000Sold price: $720,000Days on market: 362     1373 WestmoorList price: $735,000Sold price: $720,000Days on market: 10      956 VernonList price $749,000Sold price: $725,000Days on market: 8     1229 Forest GlenList price: $819,000Sold ... 11/05/2020

Foreclosure and Short Sale Homes for SaleNorth Shore Winnetka/North Shore The foreclosure/short sale market is not very broad right now - and I hope it stays that way. There has been talk of Covid-19 taking its toll on homeowners who have lost some of their income but so far that has not occured in the North Shore. The 10 towns that I’m including in this search are:  Winnetka Wilmette Kenilworth Glencoe Northfield Glenview Northbrook Deerfield Evanston Highland Park  The search also includes single family homes, condos, and townhouses.  Search for all foreclosure and short sale homes   Sign up to get monthly North Shore real estate news delivered to your inbox.It's free, we'll never sell your info, and you can opt-out at any time.Enter your email address at: North Shore Newsletter Marga... 10/29/2020

New Construction Homes for Sale in Winnetka and the North Shore Draft-free windows!Unscratched floors!Spotless countertops!Pristine everything! The lure of new construction is undeniable. Some prefer them this way while others fall in love with the charm (and sometimes updating) of our beautiful older homes.  In the past 12 months (ending October 22, 2020) there were 39 new construction homes that sold in the North Shore villages of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northbrook. They sold for between $975,000 in Wilmette up to $3,725,000 in Glencoe. The median price was $1,700,000. However, it’s rare to find a new home here for under $1 million. There aren’t as many new construction homes in the North Shore as there were a few years ago. The current dearth of newly built (spec... 10/22/2020

 WINNETKA NORTH SHORE REAL ESTATE 3rd QUARTER 2020As you probably know, the third quarter of 2020 has been a unique year for home sales on the North Shore. As soon as the governor lifted the stay-at-home order at the end of May, the floodgates opened. Those sales will be reflected in the numbers below. The general consensus has been that those three months were riotous but sales have slowed down toward the end of September. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens in the next few months and spring of next year.  Every one of the five villages saw a sizable increase in the total number of homes sold in 2020 over 2019: Winnetka: +36%Wilmette:  +39%Kenilworth:  +123%Glencoe: +37%Northfield:  +65%Great news since we’ve had an excess of inventory for years! The median price rose slightly... 10/07/2020

  HUBBARD WOODS September  2020 The Hubbard Woods real estate market slowed down in September from 11 new listings in August to 3 in September. There were 13 closes in August and 6 in September. There was clearly a rush of activity all summer long but it’s the usual pattern of home sales winding down as we head into winter. It's interesting to note that most of these new listings and sales are at the higher price ranges.3 NEW HUBBARD WOODS LISTINGS in September 2020 1180 Whitebridge Hill (under contract in 3 days)$1,350,000         921 Fisher Lane$2,999,999          865 Gordon Ter. (closed for $3,325,000 10/2017)$3,699,900       PRIVATE NETWORK LISTINGS   1162 AsburyList price: $1,099,000          794 LocustList price: $1,699,000         1570 HazelList price: 2,599,000      6 CLOSED HUB... 10/07/2020

  What Sold in Your Winnetka North ShoreVillage in September 2020? Sales in September slowed down considerably from August - you can see the numbers below that show the number of homes sold in September vs. the previous month. The year-to-date median price has stayed relatively stable so prices are holding.The under-contract homes numbers are varied - Winnetka and Wilmette have slightly more than August, but Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield are down.Here’s what closed in the North Shore in September 2020.WINNETKA  Current Winnetka Real Estate Market:Sold homes August: 23 (46 last month)Homes for sale: 79 Price range: $375,000 to $12,000,000Median price ytd: $1,080,000 Under contract/pending: 58Condos for sale: 14Price range: $200,000 to $848,000WILMETTE  Current Wilmette Real Estate ... 10/02/2020

 You may get tired of scrolling down the list of homes sales in each village because there were so many. Every village, with the exception of Northfield, shows an increase in home sales over July coupled with a reduction in inventory. Both good points for home sellers.  Clearly, sales continue to be brisk but prices are only marginally higher or have remained flat, Here’s the rundown for North Shore real estate sales in August 2020. WINNETKA   Current Winnetka Real Estate Market:Sold homes August: 46 (39 last month)Homes for sale: 81 (92 last month)Price range: $375,000 to $12,000,000Median price ytd: $1,080,000Under contract/pending: 52Condos for sale: 15Price range: $205,000 to $848,000    WILMETTE    Current Wilmette Real Estate Market:Sold homes August: 62 (44 last month)Homes for s... 09/04/2020

 HUBBARD WOODS August  2020 Hubbard Woods, like the rest of the North Shore, continues to produce strong housing numbers. Of the 11 new listings in Hubbard Woods (listed in August,) six are already under contract. One of those, an almost $6 million dollar home was listed, sold, and closed in 11 days.  Of the 13 homes that closed in August, all but one is over $1 million. In fact, that segment of the market is outpacing lesser priced homes. In the period starting June 1 until the end of August, there were 13 homes sold under $1 million; 19 homes sold between $1-2 million, and 7 homes sold over $2 million.     NEW HUBBARD WOODS LISTINGS IN August 2020   1235 Asbury - $$569,000 (under contract)            1373 Westmoor Trail - $735,000(under contract)        956 Vernon - $749,000 (under co... 09/02/2020

   New Trier Township Property Tax Assessment Appeals 2020 Dan Patlak, Cook County Board of Review Commissioner, is hosting several seminars on 2020 property tax assessment appeals in September. This is being done ahead of the actual appeal period which has not been determined yet (but should be this year.) Because of Covid, these seminars are now online webinars and will also include Winnetka Village President Chris Rintz, New Trier Township Assessor Jan Churchwell, and Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin.  These webinars are one hour long and will educate taxpayers on how to property file a tax appeal with the Board of Review. There is no fee to watch the seminar or to file an appeal. The webinar dates are: Thursday, September 311 am and 6 pm Thursday, September 1011 am and 6 pm ... 08/28/2020

 HUBBARD WOODS Home Sales JULY 2020 The housing market in Hubbard Woods continued strong in July. Sales and new listings were almost the same as June as buyers and sellers catch up the lost months due to Covid. July sales saw homes close evenly across all price ranges from $749,000 to $2.7 million.   6 NEW HUBBARD WOODS LISTINGS IN JULY  2020   935 Tower - $749,000         1050 Tower - $769,900          1329 Trapp - $1,099,900        1245 Forest Glen - $1,250,000         196 Scott - $1,285,000         1383 Westmoor Tr. - $1,695,000        PRIVATE NETWORK LISTINGS - 3 new listings 698 Green Bay (townhouse) - $699,000         960 Old Green Bay - $1,295,000         725 Walden - $3,295,000          11 CLOSED HUBBARD WOODS HOME SALES IN JULY1473 EdgewoodList price: $715,000Sold price: $520,0... 08/06/2020

Home sales and current real estate listings for the North Shore villages of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield. The surge of sales and under contract homes in the North Shore has continued into July. And will through the fall. I wrote this last month: The number of under contract homes is an excellent indicator of market demand. Looking at SOLD homes tells you what the market was doing from 1-4 months ago while UNDER CONTRACT homes tell you what’s going on right now. And right now, there are a lot of homes going under contract. The number of under contract homes continues to rise, in some areas as much as double the numbers of last month.    Here’s the rundown for North Shore real estate in June.WINNETKA     Current Winnetka Real Estate Market:Sold homes July: 39Hom... 08/04/2020

 HUBBARD WOODS JUNE 2020 In June - more new listings (2+ than May,)  more homes under contract, and more closes (7+ than May.) A lot of activity in the past month in Hubbard Woods!7 NEW HUBBARD WOODS LISTINGS IN JUNE  2020  1180 OakleyList price: $849,999 (under contract)       1287 SunviewList price: $1,049,000 (under contract)       956 WestmoorList price: $1,250,000 (!)       1235 ScottList price: $1,445,000       859 BurrList price: $1,699,000          785 WaldenList price: $1,989,000      949 FisherList price: $2,500,000PRIVATE NETWORK LISTINGS - 3 new listings  885 Private$999,000 (land)          912 Forest Glen$1,389,000         740 Ardsley$2,200,000CLOSED HUBBARD WOODS HOME SALES - JuneAs for closed sales, there were 12 (!) in June:1380 AsburyList price: $620,000Sold price: $597... 07/07/2020

   6 Highest Priced Houses to Sell in 1st Half 2020Winnetka/North Shore Using $3 million as the starting point, the six highest priced homes to sell in the North Shore were in Winnetka and Glencoe.  480 Oak St. Winnetka - $3,000,000The only lakefront home on the list, this 5-bedroom, 5 ½ bath home was built in 1913 and was recently renovated.        919 Hill Rd. Winnetka - $3,212,500Set back from the street on 1 ¼ acres, this 6-bedroom, 7 full bath and 2 half-bath home has an art deco interior once featured in Architectural Digest. It was built in 1929.      554 Longwood Ave. Glencoe - $3,400,000Built in 2019, the home has 6 bedrooms, 6 full baths, and 2 half baths. The builder is known for incorporating a sport court with 18” ceilings and this house plus the next two all have this feat... 07/07/2020

  What Sold in Your Village in June?There has been a surge of sales and under contract homes in the North Shore villages of Winnetka, Wilmette, Kenilworth, Glencoe, and Northfield.Due in large part to pent up demand from the stay-at-home quarantine coupled with unrest in downtown Chicago buyers are looking again to the suburbs. The number of under contract homes is an excellent indicator of market demand. Looking at SOLD homes tells you what the market was doing from 1-4 months ago while UNDER CONTRACT homes tell you what’s going on right now. And right now, there are a lot of homes going under contract.Here’s the rundown for North Shore real estate in June.WINNETKA   Current Winnetka Real Estate Market:Sold homes June: 24Homes for sale: 89Price range: $285,000 to $8,995,000Median price... 07/06/2020

  In June in Hubbard Woods we had more new listings (2+ than May,)  more homes under contract, and more closes (7+ than May.) The spring market has moved into the summer months because of the virus and buyers are wasting no time to get moving (many from the city.)  7 NEW HUBBARD WOODS LISTINGS IN JUNE  2020  1180 OakleyList price: $849,999 (under contract)         1287 SunviewList price: $1,049,000 (under contract)       956 WestmoorList price: $1,250,000        1235 ScottList price: $1,445,000        859 BurrList price: $1,699,000785 WaldenList price: $1,989,000     949 FisherList price: $2,500,000             PRIVATE NETWORK LISTINGS - 5 new listings 1229 Forest Glen$819,000          885 Private$999,000         795 Heather$990,000       912 Forest Glen$1,389,000      740 Ardsley$2,200... 07/01/2020

 Winnetka & North Shore Real Estate Update #3 (during Covid) Tracking the numbers for January 1 to today (June 8) for both 2019 and 2020 we can decidedly see a downward trend in overall sales. It’s important to remember that the total-lockdown just recently eased up and still has several phases to go through before more buyers and sellers feel comfortable.  In another real estate report that I prepared, I reported that under-contract homes far exceed the number of homes sold. This predicts solid home closes in the coming months and the numbers will rise.  Several other factors that might positively affect North Shore home sales are: Pent-up buyer demand Younger families currently residing in the city of Chicago may abandon their dreams of raising their children in an urban setting.  Her... 06/08/2020

  Winnetka Farmer’s Market - Back in Business! Today was a magnificent and sunny day here in Winnetka - perfect for the reopening of the farmer’s market. Some strict rules were in place but that’s okay to get at some of the wonderful items vendors were selling. Masks were mandatory, no one was allowed to touch the food, and buyers had to mostly stand back from the tables and point at what they wanted (based on guidelines from the Illinois Farmer’s Market Association.) Purchases could be in cash but no change was given back -  but they also accepted credit cards. Chef Bruno Abate of Tocco Restaurant had a booth showcasing authentic Italians pastas, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, and other delictibles. Most vendors were selling vegetables and fruits which looked beautiful. Others were sel... 06/06/2020

  What Sold in Your Village in May?By the end of May, we were 2 ½ months into the coronavirus crisis. Yes, sales are down and the bad news probably isn’t over yet. However, some of the numbers are promising and don’t paint a pessimistic picture. One of the most interesting statistics you will see in the numbers below are the high number of under-contract homes. For instance in May, only 25 homes closed yet there are currently 54 homes under-contract or pending. That means the close numbers will be rising in the coming months. Closed homes in May 2020 compared to May 2019 vary however. In Winnetka there were almost equal sales both months, Wilmette saw a 52% decrease in sales, Kenilworth rose from 1 sale to 4, Glencoe was exactly the same, and Northfield went down 69% (remember, it’s jus... 06/03/2020

Virtual Staging - the New Normal  Realty Times, (which publishes the latest real estate, mortgage, and construction information) recently stated that virtual staging may become the norm in real estate marketing. They wrote, “. . .in the new world of physical distancing and COVID-19 related restrictions, virtual staging is bound to grow in popularity.” Staging a home for sale on the North Shore is such an important and integral part of the process that most sellers don’t even ask what it means anymore. They understand the value of having a staged home that will appeal to potential buyers.  So what is virtual staging and how would it work? A good place to start with virtual staging is in a vacant home. In a newer construction home that I have listed in Glenview, I virtually staged all the... 05/13/2020